Burial vault



Patented July 3, 1923.

IJIATHIAS DOCHNAL, OF ST. LOUIS, lllISSOURI.

BURIAL VAULT.

Application filed October 9, 1919. Serial No. 329,529.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mlatrrrias Doorman, a citizen of the United States, residing in. the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burial vaults and has for its object to provide a concrete vault, so constructed, as to be air and moisture proof when the cover section has been ap plied to the casket receiving section.

A further object of the invention is to provide what may be termed a self-locking cover section wherein the cover section is held to the casket receiving section by resilient locking means. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide the cover section with an annular groove to receive the upper edge of the side wall of the casket receiving section.

With the. above and other objects in view, the invention. consists in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts as will be fully described in the following specification and finally' pointed out in the claims hereto appended. Referring to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote simila-r parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of the casket receiving section of my improved burial vault.

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the cover section.

Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional elevation of the upper portion of the vault with cover applied and clearly showing the self-locking means.

l, is a detail showing the cover section being lowered and about to engage the self-locking devices.

In carrying out the aim of my invention, the vault comprises two sections, a casket receiving section designated A and a cover section B. These two sections A and B are preferably made of some approved form of reinforced concrete to render the vault waterproof.

The casket receiving section A, consists of the bottom 1, the side walls 2 and the end walls 3. The side walls 2 and end walls 3 are provided a suitable distance below their upper edges with a suitable outwardly eX- tending flange 4. The outer face of that of each locking tongue 7 is provided with a shoulder 9 and an inclined outer face 10. The free end of the tongues '7, when depressed, are receivable in the pockets 6, as is manifest.

The cover section{ 13 consists of the top portion 11 having the continuous depend ing tongue or wall 12 having an inclined or beveled inner face 13.

The under face of the top 11, of cover section B, is provided with an annular groove 14 to receive the upper end ofithe side and end walls of the casket receiving section B when the cover section is positioned upon the casket receiving section, as

clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The inner face 13 of each" side wall 12 of the cover section B is provided with a pocket or recess 15 to form a lower shoulder 16, for engagement with the shoulder 9 of each loo-king tongue 7 when the cover section is positioned, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The side walls 12, of the cover section B, are also each provided with a suitable screw member 17, which may be turned for releasing each of the locking tongues 7 from engagement with the shoulder 16 when it is desired to remove the cover for any cause. The end of the screws are each protected by means of a dummy head, or plug 18 which must be removed before the screws can be turned with a; screw driver. The screws and plugs are preferably carried in a suitable tubular member 19.

It is evident that in positioning the cover section B upon the casket receiving section A, that the inclined inner faces of the side walls 12 of the cover section will engage the inclined faces 10 of the locking tongues T forcing the tongues 7 intothe openings 6 as the cover is lowered. When the cover has reached its closed position, it will be observed that the upper end of the end and side walls of the casket receiving section will seat in the annular groove 14 of the cover section, and, that the shoulders 9 of the locking tongues 7 will rebound and en gage the shoulders 16 of the openings 15 of I the cover section, thereby automatically locking the cover section to the casket receiving section. v

When the cover B is positioned the vault is air and moisture proof as a. wedge tight connection is formed between the side and end walls of the casket receiving section and the depending wall 12 of the cover section.

t will here be observed that the spring or automatic locking means is completely concealed when the cover section B has been positioned uponthe lower section A.

The many advantages of the hereindescribed invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

I do not wish to be understood as having limited myself to the details of construction shown and described, but desire to have it understood that the vault structure I have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may be made in the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit oi my invention, hence reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications as may fairly tall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

What I claim is:

1. A burial vault comprising a casket receiving section having an external annular flange positioned a suitable distance below the top edge of the walls of the casket receiving section, upwardly extending spring catches anchored in the flange or said casket receiving section, a shoulder formed near the upper end of each spring catch terminating upwardly in a. head having an inclined outer face, a cover section telescopically embracing the body of the casket receivingvsection above the annular flange, said casket receiving section being provided with an internal recess opposite each spring catch and said cover section being provided with a plurality of recesses to form locking shoulders for engagement with the shoulders of the spring catches when the cover section is positioned, a screw threaded member communicating with each cover section recess capable of releasing each spring catch shoulder with the lower shoulder of the cover recesses when the screw threaded members are moved inwardly thereby permitting the removal of the cover section from the casket receiving section.

2. burial vault comprising a casket receiving section having a flange extending outwardly from the end and side Walls a suitable distance below the top edges of the end and side walls, said walls having their outer taces beveled above said flange, a cover section having a continuous depending wall having inclined inner faces to enthe inclined outer faces of the end and side walls of the casket receiving section when the cover section has been positioned on the casket receiving section, a plurality of spring catches anchored in the annular flange oi the casket receiving section and each flange extending upwardly therefrom opposite a recess formed in the walls of the tasket receiving section, a head formed at the up er tree end of each spring catch having an outer beveled face for engage ment with the beveled inner face of the depending wall of the cover section when the cover ction is being positioned upon the casket receiving section, said cover section being provided with a spring catch 'receiving recess for each spring catch, and a screw threadec spring catch releasing member communicating with each cover recess, said member being capable of movcn'ient inward ly to release the spring catches from looking engagement with the cover recesses to permit the cover section to be removed from the casket receiving section after having been once positioned thereon. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

MATHIAS DOCHNATJ. 

